January 10, 2013

The Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University is accepting applications for its online Iranian School for Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding.

Instructors
The Iranian School teaches students how to approach ongoing disputes that cause conflict, resolving them through nonviolent means. Farsi and non-Farsi speaking internationally renown professors in their respective fields will teach students to:

  • Improve public knowledge of minority and majority rights,
  • Advance conflict resolution skills,
  • Develop ways of preventing racial, ethnic, gender or religious discrimination,
  • Build lasting peace between social groups in an integrated society.

Lectures that are delivered in English will be simultaneously translated into Farsi. To learn more about the Iranian School’s instructors, click here.

Embracing ethnic diversity
Iran is an ethnically diverse country. Azaris, Kurds and Arabs are among the main ethno-linguistic minority groups in Iran. The Iranian School is deliberately multi-lingual and very inclusive. In addition to receiving program materials in Farsi and English, students of Azari, Kurdish and Arab descent will receive materials, attend classes and conduct course activities in their mother tongues.

Preventing destructive conflict, managing future crises and resolving them peacefully, are all achieved through cooperation between the majority and the minorities in learning the skills of conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Cooperation and collaboration between the majority and the minorities is key to resolving internal tensions.

Academic level and financial aid
George Mason University will award scholarships to admitted students, and upon successful completion of the program, students will earn a certificate.

Application
The priority is with the Iranian ethnic minorities and also those who live inside IRAN. Registration period for the first semester has been closed. Applicants will be able to apply for the second semester starting May 19, 2013. For more information, click here.

To learn more visit the Iranian School for Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding website, here.

Classes of the Iran Online School concluded in December 2013.